JP2002056403A - Drawing instruction device, drawing instruction method and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a picking process with excellent operability in consideration of a print attribute, in a drawing instruction device. SOLUTION: In this drawing instruction device, a probably selected drawing element is taken out of drawing elements during drawing on the basis of instructed input coordinates, an outline figure in a display image of each the drawing element is taken out, the hit drawing element is decided on the basis of the obtained input coordinates and the outline figure. The drawing element decided as the hit element is extracted as a candidate of the selected drawing element, and one drawing element among the extracted candidates is decided as the selected drawing element (S1-S10).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drawing instruction device and a drawing instruction method, for example, a CAD (Computer Aide Desert).
The present invention relates to a drawing instruction apparatus and a drawing instruction method for creating and printing graphic / character string data by interactive processing in an application such as Ign) or DTP (Desk Top Publishing).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally used CAD and DTP
In such work as creating a composition using an application such as a high-precision printing device, editing work while watching the screen displayed on the display device while maintaining the final print image desired by the operator. So-called WYSIWY
In an environment of G (What You See is What You Get), it is necessary to be able to perform highly accurate pick (picking) processing based on a print image. Here, the picking process is a process of selecting a drawing element or a pattern displayed on the display device according to an arbitrary position on the display device designated by an operator using a pointing device such as a mouse.

[0003]

However, in the conventional picking process performed in applications such as CAD and DTP, various patterns are drawn on a display without considering printing attributes such as line width and text. May be used. in this case,
In a state where a line segment having a large line width is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 10, even if the end in the line width direction is picked, the line segment cannot be correctly picked, or FIG.
When a single-dot chain line as illustrated in FIG. 1 is targeted, even if a portion without a line is picked, a drawing element of the single-dot chain line is selected, and further, as illustrated in FIG. Even if a part other than the character is selected, the font box is selected if the selected part is within the range of a circumscribed rectangle surrounding the character called the font box.

[0004] In addition, the drawing element to be selected is shown in FIG.
In the case of overlapping as illustrated in FIG. 3, there is a problem that it is difficult to select a hidden element.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a drawing instruction apparatus, a drawing instruction method, and a computer-readable storage medium which are excellent in operability and perform a picking process in consideration of a print attribute.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a drawing instruction apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, from among the drawing elements being drawn, a drawing element which may be selected may be obtained based on the designated input coordinates, and a contour figure in a display image of each drawing element may be obtained. Contour figure obtaining means,
Hit determining means for determining a drawing element being hit based on the input coordinates obtained by the element obtaining means and the contour graphic obtained by the contour graphic obtaining means; and determining that a hit has been made by the hit determining means. The extracted drawing element is extracted as a candidate for the selected drawing element, and any one of the extracted candidates is
Selecting means for determining the selected drawing element.

[0008] For example, the hit determination means includes a pick window creation means for creating a pick window having a predetermined area based on the input coordinates, a pick window created by the pick window creation means, and a contour figure acquisition. It is preferable to include an interference determination unit that determines whether or not the outline figure obtained by the unit interferes.

[0009] For example, the selection means may include a search means for searching for a drawing element having the highest priority among the drawing elements determined to be hit by the hit determination means, and a predetermined priority according to the element type. When there are a plurality of drawing elements obtained by the element type priority element selecting means for extracting a higher priority element, and a plurality of drawing elements obtained by the search means and the element type priority element selecting means, It is preferable to include a determination unit that determines the selected drawing element and, when only one acquired drawing element exists, determines the selected drawing element.

In a preferred embodiment, when the drawing elements judged to be hit by the hit judging means are displayed in an overlapping manner, the drawing elements are temporarily offset by a predetermined amount and offset. Offset means for recognizing and displaying the selected drawing element based on the input coordinates specified in the display state offset by the offset means. It is better to decide.

In order to achieve the above object, a drawing instruction method according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, an element acquiring step of extracting a drawing element which may be selected from drawing elements being drawn based on the designated input coordinates, and extracting a contour figure in a display image of each drawing element. Contour figure acquisition process,
Based on the input coordinates obtained in the element obtaining step and the contour figure obtained in the contour figure obtaining step, a hit determining step of determining a drawing element being hit, and a hit in the hit determining step. The drawing element determined to be
A step of extracting as a selected drawing element candidate and determining one of the extracted drawing elements as the selected drawing element.

In the hit determining step, for example, a pick window having a predetermined area is created based on the input coordinates, and the pick window thus created and the contour figure acquired in the contour figure acquiring step interfere with each other. It is good to judge whether or not.

Further, the invention is characterized by a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for realizing the above-described drawing instruction apparatus and the drawing instruction method by a computer.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a drawing instruction apparatus and a drawing instruction method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] [Explanation of Hardware Configuration] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a drawing instruction apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a central processing unit (C
PU), which performs overall control and arithmetic processing of the apparatus. Reference numeral 11 denotes a keyboard which allows an operator to input characters and numerical values, and 12 denotes a mouse as an auxiliary input device for designating coordinates and graphics. Reference numeral 41 denotes a display device such as a CRT, which displays graphic data, character data, various operation panels and buttons according to a software program executed by the CPU 21. That is, the keyboard 11, the mouse 12, and the display device 41 function as a man-machine interface in the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a system bus, and all the components of the hardware constituting the apparatus are connected to the system bus 2.
2 and exchange programs and data.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a read-only memory (RO)
M), and the program according to the present embodiment uses the RO
It is stored in advance in M31, and the CPU 21
The program read from 1 is executed. Reference numeral 32 denotes a read / write storage device (RAM), and the CPU 21 executes the RA as needed during the execution of the program according to the present embodiment.
Processing is performed while data is read from and written to M32. 33
Is an external storage device such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk device (FD) or a hard disk device (HD), and stores data such as character type information and code information.

The program according to the present embodiment may be stored in the external storage device 33, read into the RAM 32, and then executed by the CPU 21, or may include character type information, code information, and the like. Data of R
The data may be stored in the OM 31, and the CPU 21 may read and use the data as needed.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a laser printer as an example of a printing apparatus, which performs proof printing (output for confirming print data) of print data created by the apparatus, and outputs the contents of a print log file. . Reference numeral 52 denotes an image setter, which prints the print data created by the apparatus (prints a high-accuracy copy of a formal copy).
Reference numeral 53 denotes a laser marker, which prints print data created by the apparatus directly onto a product by using a laser.

Here, differences between the laser printer 51, the imagesetter 52, and the laser marker 53 will be described.

The laser printer 51 is a printer for adsorbing toner on an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum by an irradiated laser beam, and transferring and fixing the toner image on a recording paper, and has a resolution of 1500 DPI ( (Dots / inch). Also, the imagesetter 52
Is a printer that irradiates a laser beam directly to photosensitive paper, and can have a resolution up to about 400 DPI. The paper size used for the imagesetter 52 can be up to about A1. The laser marker 53 is a printing device that directly irradiates a molded product with a laser beam to melt and blacken the resin material or to develop a color using a special material containing a filler.

Next, the display function according to this embodiment will be described. The drawing instruction device according to the present embodiment has a so-called WYSIWYG function of performing control of displaying graphic data and character data on the display device 41 in the same display form as the output form at the time of printing. FIG. 3 illustrates this.

FIG. 3A shows a display example of WYSIWYG displayed on the display device 41, and the display form of FIG. 3A shows an example of an output result at the time of printing. It is almost the same as the form.

On the other hand, FIG. 3B shows a display example other than WYSIWYG, and the display form of FIG. 3B is an example of an output result at the time of printing. The display form in FIG. 3B is different from the output form in FIG. 3C which is an example of the output result at the time of printing.

Next, an operation screen on the display device 41 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a main panel 61 displayed on the display device 41 when the pick processing program according to the present embodiment is executed.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 61 denotes a main panel;
Is a drawing area, 63 is a mouse pointer, 64 is a character input area, 65 is a button group, 66 is a general-purpose button, 67 is a command menu, 68 is a guidance area, 71 is a panel other than the main panel, and 72 is a button on the panel 71 It is. The buttons on FIG. 4 are all soft keys.

On the main panel 61, the keyboard 1
The drawing instruction device according to the present embodiment interactively creates and edits print data in response to an operator operating an input device such as the mouse 1 or a mouse 12. The created print data is displayed in the drawing area 62.

In addition, if necessary, various panels 71 are displayed in addition to the main panel 61, and operations may be performed on the panel 71.

Hereinafter, a method that can be input by an operator in the present embodiment via a software panel displayed on the display device 41 will be described with reference to FIG.

When inputting from the keyboard 11, the operator specifies a character input area 64 with the mouse 12 or the keyboard 11, and then inputs characters or numerical values. When inputting with the mouse 12, the following method is used.

First, there are the following two methods (1) and (2) for selecting a specific element or button.

(1) Element selection: The drawing pattern displayed in the drawing area 62 (the CPU 2
The operator moves the mouse pointer 63 to a desired position of the (pattern displayed by 1), and selects an element to be operated by, for example, pressing a left mouse button at that position.

(2) Button selection: Various buttons 65, general-purpose buttons 66 displayed on the main panel 61, and various buttons 72 displayed on the panel 71 displayed as necessary are located at predetermined positions. The operator moves the mouse pointer 63 and presses, for example, the left mouse button at that position to select a button to be operated.

As a method of specifying a specific position on the drawing area 62, there are the following five methods (3) to (7).

(3) Arbitrary designation: The mouse pointer 63 is moved to an arbitrary position on the drawing area 62, and the position is designated at that position, for example, by pressing down the right mouse button.

(4) Point designation: The position is designated by selecting a point displayed in the drawing area 62.

(5) Feature point specification: By selecting an element other than a point displayed in the drawing area 62, the CPU 21 extracts a characteristic point of the element and specifies the position.

Here, when there are a plurality of feature points, 1
Methods for specifying points include a method in which the CPU 21 automatically extracts a feature point closest to the position of the mouse pointer 63 when an element is selected, a method in which one more point is specified from a plurality of existing feature points, and the like. There is.

FIG. 5 shows an example of feature points of each element of the graphic data. In the figure, points indicated by * are characteristic points characterizing the shapes of various figures. That is, in FIG. 5, the specific positions of the feature points characterizing various graphic data are as follows.・ Line segment: Both end points, mid point ・ Circle: Center point, intersection (4 points) of a circle with a straight line drawn in the X and Y axis directions from the center of the circle ・ Circle arc: Center point, both end points, mid point (A point on the arc that bisects the distance of the arc) • Ellipse: center point, intersection of ellipse minor axis and major axis with ellipse (4 points) • Ellipse arc: center point, endpoints, minor axis of ellipse arc Intersection points (4 points) of the major axis and the ellipse including the elliptic arc (4 points), midpoints (points on the elliptical arc that bisects the distance of the elliptical arc), • Line segment sequence: Both end points, midpoint, Free curve: Both end points, control points of the curve, and midpoints (points that bisect the distance of the free curve).

(6) Intersection designation: By selecting one or two line elements such as line segments and circles displayed in the drawing area 62, the CPU 21 determines the intersection of those elements. Calculate and specify the position.

Here, if a single line element has its own intersection, that is, if it intersects itself, it is only necessary to select one line element. Otherwise,
Two line elements are specified (see FIG. 6).

When there are a plurality of intersections, a method for specifying one point includes a method in which the CPU 21 automatically extracts an intersection closest to the position of the mouse pointer 63 when an element is selected first or later. There is a method of designating one more point from the intersection.

(7) Point designation on line: By selecting one line element such as a line segment or a circle displayed in the drawing area 62, the line element closest to the position of the mouse pointer 63 at that time is selected. Is calculated by the CPU 21 and the position is designated.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which an arc is selected as an element and its position is designated by designation on a line. In FIG. 7, at the position indicated by the mark, the element is selected in the order of the line segment and the arc, and the position of the mark * is designated by the intersection specification. The points marked with レ are points near the arc, and the points marked with * are
A point on an arc.

Next, "commands" handled in this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, each unit for creating and editing print data is referred to as a “command”.

The commands handled in this embodiment include commands (drawing commands) for creating each element such as a point, a straight line, a circle, and a curve, and shapes and attributes of each element such as movement, copying, deletion, and attributes. There are commands for correction (correction commands), and other commands related to files, prints, registration marks, bar codes, and the like.

In order for the operator to create or edit print data using the drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment, first, an arbitrary command is selected according to the work unit.

In order to select a command, a method of inputting a command name from the keyboard 11 in the character input area 64 shown in FIG. There is a method to select.

When a command is selected by the operator, if there is a command that has already been selected, the end processing of that command is performed. Subsequently, the initial processing of the newly selected command is performed, and the processing in the command is started.

When a command is selected, a command menu 67 is displayed on the display device 41 for selecting a more detailed work unit in the selected command. The user can perform various editing operations by selecting a button of any 67 menu items as a command. An instruction as to what kind of operation the user should perform is displayed in the guidance area 68 each time according to the work situation, so the user may perform the operation according to the instruction.

[Data Structure] <Elements of Print Data> Next, what kind of elements are included in the graphic data and character data constituting the print data that can be created by the drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment? A specific description will be given as to whether or not it exists.

Elements of graphic data and character data that can be created by the drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment are roughly classified into the following five types (A) to (E).

(A) Basic figures: point, line segment, line segment sequence (open /
(Closed), circle, arc, ellipse, elliptical arc, free curve (open / closed), (B) solid figure, (C) other figures: registration marks, barcodes, (D) text, (E) group figures: symbols, An illustration.

The term "element" as used herein means a unit of data that is actually laid out as print data by adding an attribute (called a print attribute) required as print data to graphic data or character data. . If a plurality of elements laid out as print data are grouped together, they can be treated as one element.
The method of grouping elements will be described later.

Next, the five elements (A) to (E) will be described in detail.

First, the basic figure shown in FIG. 3A is the most basic figure data element. In addition, rectangles (rectangles whose sides are parallel to the X and Y axes), regular polygons, and the like formed by a line segment sequence can be treated as elements of the basic graphic. Further, as the free curve, an expression form such as Bezier, advantageous Bezier, B-spline, Hermite, NURBS or the like can be used.

The filled figure of (B) forms a closed region by connecting the elements (except for points) of (A) alone or a plurality of them, and forms a closed area of the figure data in which the inside is filled. Element. There are the following four types of filling methods.

(1) Fill area: The inside is uniformly painted.

(2) Hatching: Filling with a plurality of line segments having a fixed inclination and interval. A specific point in the filled figure can be designated as a reference point for hatching.

(3) Mesh: circle, rectangle, regular polygon, etc.
Fill by repeating a figure with a certain shape. A specific point in the filled figure can be designated as a reference point of the mesh.

(4) Pattern: Painted by repeating a bit pattern created in advance.

Further, the other figures in (C) include registration marks, bar codes, and the like. These elements include both graphic data and character data. The method of creating the registration mark and barcode elements will be described later.

The text (D) is an element of character data. Like the graphic data element, the layout can be laid out as print data, but the type of print attribute and the layout method are different from the graphic data element.

Finally, the group graphic of (E) is a basic graphic of (A), a solid graphic of (B), another graphic of (C), and one or more arbitrary elements of the text of (D). This is for selecting a number and treating it as one element at a time. There are symbols and illustrations.

<Print Attributes of Print Data> Next, what types of print attributes of graphic data and character data, which are print data that can be created by the drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment, are described in detail. I will explain it.

The print attributes of graphic data and character data that can be created are roughly classified into the following seven types (a) to (g).

First, there are the following three types of print attributes common to graphic data and character data: (a) to (c).

(A) Display attribute: whether to display an element,
In addition, when displaying, the user designates what kind of upper / lower relationship to display (referred to as display priority).

(B) Selection attribute: Specifies whether or not element selection is possible. If an element cannot be selected, operations on the element cannot be performed.

(C) Color attribute: The color of an element is represented by giving the type of a color model such as RGB or HLS and the value of a color code. When a monochrome printing device, such as the display device 41 or the laser printer 51, which cannot express the color of white and black meaning I is used, it is converted to either white or black depending on the color attribute and output. Is done.

Next, there are the following three types of print attributes unique to the graphic data: (d) to (f).

(D) Point attribute: In the case of a point element, a symbol or a character string can be displayed at a position where a point exists.

(E) Line attribute: In the case of an element (line element) of a basic figure other than a point, the following various line attributes can be expressed.

Line type: Indicates the shape of a line element, and includes a solid line, a broken line, a one-dot chain line, a two-dot chain line, and the like.

Line width: Indicates the size of the line element in the normal direction. It is possible to designate a predetermined type such as a thin line, a medium line, a thick line, or the like, or to specify an actual size.

Line width direction: When the line width is not considered,
Indicates which of the normal directions is offset by the line width.

Terminal shape: The shape of the terminal of an open figure such as a line segment or an arc, such as round, flat, square, etc.

Connection shape: The shape of the corner of a figure such as a line segment or a rectangle, such as a miter, a round, a bevel, or the like.

Line pitch: When the line type is other than the solid line, the length of the portion where the line exists and the length of the portion where the line does not exist can be given by the actual size or parameter.

(F) Filling attribute: In the case of a filled graphic element (drawing element), the type of internal filling method such as a fill area, hatching, mesh, pattern, etc., and necessary detailed data and pattern in the case of hatching or mesh , The pattern number is given.

Finally, print attributes unique to character data include:
There is only one type shown in (g) below.

(G) Character string attribute: In the case of a text element,
The following attributes of various characters and attributes of the entire character string can be expressed.・ Typeface: Represents the design of a set of characters, such as courier, helvetica, gothic, etc. Character size: Represents the size of a character, and a rectangular area generally occupied by one character is equal to the height of the body in the line feed direction. Flatness ratio: The ratio of how much a character is reduced in the line feed direction of the character.・ Long body ratio: The ratio indicates how much a character is shrunk in the character feed direction. Base angle: represents the angle between the character feed direction and the X axis. -Italic angle: Indicates the inclination angle of the character with respect to the character feed direction. Character spacing: represents the spacing between the bodies of two adjacent characters on the same line. -Line spacing: represents the spacing between the bodies of the characters on two adjacent lines. -Invert character string: Invert (mirror image) a character string and display it.

<Data Structure of Print Data> Next, the data structure of print data in the present embodiment will be described.

The print data in the present embodiment is composed of a plurality of element data and a plurality of print attribute data described above.

Here, each element data is basically composed of a data type code, a data number, necessary data for each element,
It consists of the data number of the required print attribute data for each element.

The type of each element data in the print data can be specified by the data type code uniquely assigned in the print data.

Further, each element data in the print data can be specified by the data number uniquely assigned in the print data. The types of required data and required print attributes are different for each element, but the CPU 21 can identify them by the data type code.

Further, each print attribute is not held for each element data, but each element data holds only the data number of the necessary print attribute data. This avoids duplication of print attribute data,
It is possible to reduce the capacity of print data, change the print attributes of a plurality of element data by one operation, and the like.

First, the data structure of each element of graphic data and character data will be specifically described below.

(A) Basic figure: (1) Point ・ Data type code ・ Data number ・ Point coordinates: c [2] ・ Data number of display attribute ・ Data number of selected attribute ・ Data of color attribute No., data number of point attribute, (2) line segment, data type code, data number, start point coordinate: s [2], end point coordinate: e [2], display attribute data number, selection Attribute data number, color attribute data number, line attribute data number, (3) line segment data type code, data number, number of passing points: np, coordinates of each passing point: pp [2] ( np), ・ Data number of display attribute, ・ Data number of selected attribute, ・ Data number of color attribute, ・ Data number of line attribute, (4) circle ・ Data type code, ・ Data number, ・ Center coordinate: c [2], ・ Radius: r, ・ Data of display attribute・ Data number of selection attribute ・ Data number of color attribute ・ Data number of line attribute ・ (5) Arc ・ Data type code ・ Data number ・ Start point coordinate: s [2] ・ End point coordinate: e [2], center coordinates: c [2], rotation direction flag (clockwise / counterclockwise), display attribute data number, selection attribute data number, color attribute data number, line Data number of attribute, (6) ellipse Data type code, data number, center coordinate: c [2], long axis vector: a [2], short axis vector: b [2], display attribute・ Data number of selection attribute ・ Data number of color attribute ・ Data number of line attribute ・ (7) Elliptic arc ・ Data type code ・ Data number ・ Start point coordinate: s [2] ・ End point coordinate : E [2], center coordinates: c [2], Axis vector: a [2] ・ Short axis vector: b [2] ・ Rotation direction flag (clockwise / counterclockwise) ・ Data number of display attribute ・ Data number of selected attribute ・ Data of color attribute No., data number of line attribute, (8) free curve (in the case of Bezier curve), data type code, data number, number of curves: nv, control point data of each curve (nv), number of control points: nc, coordinates of each control point: pc [2] (nc), weight coefficient: w, number of passing points: np, coordinates of each passing point: pp [2] (np), data number of display attribute, Data number of selection attribute, data number of color attribute, data number of line attribute, (B) solid figure: data type code, data number, coordinate of lower left point of layout reference rectangle: p1 [2], layout Lower right point coordinate of reference rectangle: p2 2], the number of loops: nl, component data (nl number) • each loop: number of components: nd, component data: basic graphic element data excluding the point (nd
・ Passing reference point coordinates: pp [2] ・ Data number of display attribute ・ Data number of selected attribute ・ Data number of color attribute ・ Data number of fill attribute ・ Data number of display attribute of frame Data number of frame color attribute Data number of line attribute of frame

Here, the filled figure has, as print attributes, a print attribute of a frame of the filled figure in addition to a print attribute inside the filled figure. For example, it is possible to change and display the color attributes of the frame and the internal color attributes.

(C) Other figures: (1) Register mark, • Data type code, • Data number, • Register mark type flag (register mark / scale register mark), • Register mark shape flag (11 kinds / scale register mark for register mark)・ Register mark offset flag (with / without offset) ・ Print data name (for scale register mark) ・ Register mark length (for scale register mark) ・ Layout reference point coordinates: pb [2] • Output magnification: sc • Layout base rectangle lower left point coordinate: p1 [2] • Layout base rectangle lower right point coordinate: p2 [2] • Number of components: nd • Component data: line for registration mark Minute and scale registration mark bars are element data of line segment, circle or text (nd), (2) bar code, data type code, data number・ Barcode type flags (4 types) ・ Code data ・ Code display flag (with / without code display) ・ Layout reference position flag (9 types such as lower left / center / upper right) ・ Layout reference point coordinates: pb [2], layout angle: ang, layout scale: sc, layout reference rectangle lower left point coordinate: p1 [2], layout reference rectangle upper right point coordinate: p2 [2], number of components: nd, Component data: any one of line segment and text element data (nd), (D) text: (1) basic character string (element constituting text), data type code, data number, character string Start point coordinates: pt [2] ・ Number of character string bytes: nch ・ Character string data: str (nch bytes) ・ Layout angle: ang ・ Layout scale : Data number of display attribute, data number of selected attribute, data number of color attribute, data number of character string attribute, (2) text data type code, data number, layout reference position flag (9 types including lower left / center / upper right) ・ Layout reference point coordinates: pb [2] ・ Layout reference rectangle lower left coordinates: p1 [2] ・ Layout reference rectangle upper right coordinates: p2 [2] ・ Number of components : Nd ・ Component data: element data of basic character string (nd
Pieces).

Here, the text element is configured by combining a plurality of basic character string elements. This makes it possible to handle a character string having a plurality of character string attributes in one text element. For example, it is possible to change the font of a character in the middle of one text, and to control the height and width of the character.

(E) Group graphic: (1) Symbol • Data type code, • Data number, • Folder name, • File name, • Layout reference position flag (9 types such as lower left / center / upper right), • Layout reference point Coordinates: pb [2], layout angle: ang, layout scale: sc, layout base rectangle lower left point coordinates: p1 [2], layout base rectangle upper right point coordinates: p2 [2], inversion flag (inversion) (With / without), • Line width scale flag (with / without line width scale), • Line width scale value, (2) Illustration • Data type code, • Data number, • Folder name, • File name, • Layout reference position Flags (9 types such as lower left / center / upper right), layout reference point coordinates: pb [2], layout angle: ang, Out scale: sc ・ Layout reference rectangle lower left point coordinates: p1 [2] ・ Layout reference rectangle upper right point coordinates: p2 [2] ・ Reversal flag (with / without reversal) ・ Number of components: nd ・ Configuration Element data: Arbitrary element data (nd number).

The characteristics of the data structure of the symbol and the illustration and the file structure of the symbol data file and the illustration data file will be described later.

Next, the data structure of print attribute data corresponding to the element data having the above-described data structure will be described.

Here, each print attribute data is basically
It has a configuration of a data type code, a data number, an attribute setting flag, and required data for each print attribute. The type of each print attribute data in the print data can be specified by a data type code uniquely assigned in the print data.

Further, each print attribute data in the print data can be specified by a data number uniquely assigned in the print data. Necessary data differs for each printing attribute, but depending on the data type code, the CPU 21
Can identify them.

The attribute setting flag is a flag for specifying whether or not the print attribute data is valid. In the element data indicating the print attribute data for which the attribute setting flag is valid, the element is displayed according to the corresponding print attribute data.

On the other hand, in the element data indicating the print attribute data in which the attribute setting flag is invalid, it is assumed that the corresponding print attribute is not set, and the RO is set in advance.
The elements are displayed according to the default print attributes stored in the M31 and the external storage device 33.

When the data structure is such that each element data can have a hierarchical relationship, it is possible to control the display according to the print attribute of the upper (or lower) element.

Next, the data structure of each print attribute data will be specifically described.

(A) Display attributes • Data type code, • Data number, • Attribute setting flag (valid / invalid), • Display flag (display / non-display), • Display priority, (b) Selection attribute • Data type code , Data number, attribute setting flag (valid / invalid), element selection flag (valid / invalid), (c) color attribute data type code, data number, attribute setting flag (valid / invalid), Color code identification flag (RGB / HLS), color code 1, 2, 3, (d) point attribute data type code, data number, attribute setting flag (valid / invalid), marker character string, (e ) Line attribute ・ Data type code ・ Data number ・ Attribute setting flag (valid / invalid) ・ Line type flag (solid line / dashed line / single-dot chain line / two-dot chain line / arbitrary broken line / arbitrary single-dot chain line / optional)・ Line width flag (thin line / medium line / thick line / extreme thick line / arbitrary line width) ・ Line direction flag (center / inside / outside) ・ Terminal shape flag (round / flat / square) Connection shape flag (miter / round / bevel), line type data 1, 2, 3, 4 (when line type = arbitrary), line width data (when line width = arbitrary), (f) fill attribute Data type code, data number, attribute setting flag (valid / invalid), fill type flag (filled / not filled /
(Hatching / mesh number / pattern number, etc.), number of data groups: nd, fill data 1, 2, 3 (nd), (g) character string attribute, data type code, data number, attribute setting flag ( Valid / invalid), ・ Typeface, ・ Character size, ・ Flat body ratio, ・ Long body ratio, ・ Base angle, ・ Italic angle, ・ Character space, ・ Line spacing, ・ Character string inversion flag (Yes / No).

FIG. 8 shows an example of a print data file created by the drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment based on the data structure of the print data described above.

The print data shown in FIG. 8 is print data for printing a figure having a shape as shown in FIG. 9, and the figure represented by the print data shown in FIG. It consists of graphic elements, and consists of one line segment sequence, two circles, and two points, a lower left point and an upper right point of a circumscribed rectangle of these three elements (these two points are not displayed and cannot be selected). Further, these one line portion row and two circles have the same display attribute (display), selection attribute (selectable), line attribute (solid line, line width 20 mm), and have different color attributes from each other. Shall be

<Data Structure of Group Graphic> Next, among the data structures of the print data described above, the data structure of symbols and illustrations, which are group figures, will be described in detail.

First, the data structure of a symbol will be described.

In the present embodiment, a symbol is a figure repeatedly used, such as a symbol defined by a standard or a logo mark, and includes elements of graphic data (line segments, circles, etc.),
This element is created by combining elements (text) of character data.

In the case where the contents of the symbol data file are updated due to a change in the standard or the like, in the present embodiment, all the corresponding symbols already laid out as a part of the print data are updated, and Synchronization can be maintained. That is, the drawing instruction device according to the present embodiment holds the symbol data in the following data structure.

In the print data, only the folder name and file name for specifying the location of the symbol data file and information necessary for laying out the symbols are stored.

Further, a symbol data file is created separately from a print data file in which print data is stored in a file. The symbol data file has the following file structure. -Coordinates of the lower left point of the layout reference rectangle: p1 [2]-Coordinates of the upper right point of the layout reference rectangle: p2 [2]-Component data: Arbitrary element data (plural)-Print attribute data: Required print attribute data ( Multiple).

Although the layout reference rectangle will be described later, if the layout reference rectangle is determined, it is possible to specify information on the position and size required when laying out the symbols as print data. For example, as the layout reference rectangle, it is possible to designate a minimum rectangle (referred to as a circumscribed rectangle) surrounding the visible portion of the symbol.

If the data of the circumscribed rectangle of the corresponding symbol is registered as the layout reference rectangle when the symbol data file is created, it is necessary to recalculate the circumscribed rectangle of the symbol when the symbol data file is read again. Disappears.

Each component data of the symbol is represented by a relative coordinate value based on the lower left point of the layout reference rectangle.

As with the print data, print attribute data necessary for displaying each component element data is held separately from the element data.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the print data file including the changed symbol is not updated, the relevant print data file is simply read from the external storage device 33 to the RAM 32 again. The symbol data in the data is automatically updated to the contents of the latest symbol data file, and the data can be automatically synchronized.

Next, the data structure of an illustration which is another group figure will be described.

In the present embodiment, an illustration is a figure that is repeatedly used like a template figure, which is also an element of graphic data (line segment, circle, etc.) and an element of character data (text) like a symbol. ) Is an element created by combining

The illustration is different from the symbol described above in that once the layout is once laid out as a part of the print data, the user can freely change the illustration without synchronizing with the contents of the original illustration data file. used.

Therefore, in the case of the illustration data, unlike the automatic update of the symbol data described above, even if the contents of the illustration data file are updated, the corresponding illustration already laid out as a part of the print data is displayed. It doesn't update and stay in sync.

Therefore, the drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment holds illustration data in the following data structure.

That is, in the print data, in addition to the folder name and file name for specifying the location of the illustration data file, and information necessary for laying out the illustration, the illustration read from the illustration data file is included. It holds each element data that actually configures.

An illustration data file is created separately from the print data file. The illustration data file has the following file structure. -Coordinates of the lower left point of the layout reference rectangle: p1 [2]-Coordinates of the upper right point of the layout reference rectangle: p2 [2]-Component data: Arbitrary element data (plural)-Print attribute data: Required print attribute data ( Multiple).

This structure is similar to the file structure of the symbol data file. When this is read into the print data, each component data in the illustration data file is developed (coordinate converted) according to the specified layout angle and layout scale with the specified layout reference point coordinates as the origin, and the print data Are different from symbols in that they are all stored as illustration element data.

[Pick Processing] Next, the pick processing executed by the drawing instruction apparatus shown in FIG. 2 to realize the above-described drawing control will be described.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the picking process in the first embodiment, which is executed by the CPU 21.

In the figure, step S1: WYSIW
In the IG environment, the input coordinates specified by the operator using the mouse 12 or the like are taken out while looking at the display device 41 (see FIG. 14), and the coordinate values are stored in the read / write storage device
2 or an external storage device 33 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a storage device).

Step S2: Based on the coordinate values stored in step S1 and the display position data of the element graphic displayed on the display device 41, the element graphic which may be selected by the operator is determined and selected. An identification number or the like indicating a possible element graphic is stored in a storage device as a selectable element list, and is sequentially extracted (FIG. 14).
reference).

Step S3: A contour figure is calculated based on the geometric and attribute data of each figure element stored in advance according to the identification numbers of the figure elements sequentially taken out in step S2, and stored in the storage device ( See FIG. 15).

Step S4: Based on the input coordinates stored in step S1 and the contour graphic information stored in step S3, it is determined whether or not a hit has occurred.

Here, the details of the processing in step S4 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 19, step S4-1: A pick window (a region having a predetermined area) is created based on the input coordinates (see FIG. 16). The procedure for creating the pick window may be performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 20, step S4-1-1:
The side length entered by the storage device or the operator is
It is acquired as the side length L of the pick window.

Step S4-1-2: Make the display device 41 have a predetermined length. The side length L is converted to L ′.
Specifically, when the display coordinate system is enlarged and displayed on the display device 41, a predetermined length L reflecting the side length L on the display device is obtained by processing such as dividing the side length L by the scale value. 'To be converted.

Step S4-1-3: The length L 'of one side calculated in step S4-1-2 around the input coordinates
Is the pick window.

Next, returning to the description of FIG.
4-2: It is determined whether the pick window obtained as described above and the contour figure obtained in step S3 interfere with each other (see FIG. 17).

Steps S4-3 to S4-5: In the determination of step S4-2, it is determined that there is a hit if there is interference, and it is determined that there is no hit because there is no interference.

The specific procedure in step S4-2 may be performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 21, step SS4-2 is performed.
1: Extract the circumscribed rectangle of the outline figure of the display image in consideration of the attributes of each element.

Step S4-2-2: It is checked whether or not the pick window interferes with the circumscribed rectangle of the contour figure obtained as described above. In this step, the purpose is to check whether the interference is rough with a small amount of calculation.

Steps S4-2-3 to S4-2
-6: Step S if it is determined that there is no possibility of interference
If it is determined in 4-2-6 that there is no hit and it is determined that there is a possibility of interference, then in step S4-2-4, the pick window and the circumscribed rectangle of the outline graphic are actually used by using the data of the outline graphic. It is checked whether interference has occurred, and in step S4-2-5, a hit is identified according to the result. Here, a more specific procedure will be described later with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 22, step S4-2-3-3
1: Calculate a bitmap image of a display image when the contour graphic is displayed on the display device 41.

Step S4-2-3-2: A bitmap image of a display image when the pick window is displayed on the display device 41 is calculated.

Step S4-2-3-3: It is checked whether or not each pixel is interfering with each bitmap image of the contour figure and the pick window obtained as described above. What is necessary is just to take the logical product for each pixel.

Step S4-2-3-4 to Step S4
-2-3-6: If even one pixel interferes, it is determined that a hit has occurred, and if no pixel has interfered, it is determined that no hit has occurred.

Here, the description returns to FIG. Step S5
Step S6: The element determined to be hit in step S4 described above is stored in the storage device as a selected element candidate.

Step S7: It is determined whether or not there are any more registered selection elements.
Returning to step S3, the above-described processing of steps S3 to S6 is performed on the remaining elements that may have been selected.

Steps S8 to S10: It is determined whether or not there is a selection element candidate (step S8).
The selected element is determined from the hit elements based on a certain criterion (step S9), and if not, there is no selected element (step S10).

Here, the details of the processing in step S9 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 23, step S9-1: Search for the element having the highest priority among the hit elements. It is assumed that priorities are set in advance for each element.

If there is a plurality of elements having the highest priority as a result of the search, the following processing (S8-2) is performed.

Steps S9-2 and S9-6: As a result of the search, it is determined whether there are a plurality of elements having the highest priority (step S9-2).
In step S9-6, the element is set as a selected element.

Step S9-3: As a result of the determination in step S9-2, since there are a plurality of elements having the highest priority, the plurality of elements having the highest priority determined as described above are classified by element type. Then, the one having the highest priority is searched for according to the priority set for each element type.

As the priority order for each element type, the point has the highest priority, the filled figure has the lowest priority, and the others have the priority in between. The reason for this is that points are generally hidden behind other elements and are difficult to select, so filled shapes hide other elements and are easy to be selected. This makes it easy to select various types of elements equally. (See FIG. 13) A more specific procedure of step S9-3 is described in, for example, FIG.
It may be performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 24, steps S9-3-1 to S9-3-1
Step S9-3-2: Search for a point whose element type is point,
If there is a point, take it out. If there is no point, the process proceeds to step S9-3-4 and subsequent steps.

Step S9-3-4 to Step S9-3
-7: Search for an element type that is not a filled figure, and if there is an element type that is not a filled figure, step S9-3.
At -3, the figure is taken out. On the other hand, when there is no non-filled figure, the filled figure is extracted in step S9-3-7.

Step S9-4: The above step S9-
As a result of the search in 3, it is determined whether there are a plurality of elements,
If there is more than one, the process proceeds to step S9-5, and if there is only one element, that element is set as a selected element in step S9-6.

Step S9-5: The figure to be selected is determined according to the order of the drawing list. Here, it is assumed that the drawing priority of each element is managed by a list. In this list, for example, the first one is drawn first, and the later one is written later. As a result, an item behind the list is displayed as if it were displayed closer to the operator of the display device 41. At this time, if there are a plurality of selected candidate elements, if the last one in the drawing list is selected, the element on the front side will be selected.

According to the first embodiment, a pick process that is excellent in operability and that takes print attributes into consideration is realized.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment based on the drawing instruction apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

The drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processing in step S4-2-3 is performed according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 25, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. .

In FIG. 25, step S4-2-3-3
1A to Step S4-2-3-4A: It is checked whether or not the element data and the pick window interfere geometrically, and it is determined by calculating whether the element data and the pick window interfere geometrically (Step S4-2-). 3-1A). As a result, if it is determined that there is interference, it is determined that a hit has occurred (step S4-2-3-3A), and if it is determined that there is no interference, it is determined that no hit has occurred (step S4).
-2-3-4A).

According to this embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment based on the drawing instruction apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

The drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processing in step S4-2-3 is performed according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 26, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. .

In FIG. 26, step S4-2-3-3
1B: The sum of the rectangles of the font boxes of the characters forming the character string is calculated as the font box.

Step S4-2-3-2B: It is checked whether or not the pick window and the rectangle obtained in step S4-2-3-1B geometrically interfere (step S4-2).
-3-3B), if it is determined that there is interference, it is determined that there is a hit (step S4-2-3-4B), and if it is determined that there is no interference, it is determined that there is no hit (step S4). -2-3-5B).

According to this embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be enjoyed.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment based on the drawing instruction apparatus according to the above-described first and second embodiments will be described.
An embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

The drawing instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processing in step S4-2-3 is performed according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. .

In FIG. 27, step S4-2-3-3
1C: Estimate the data amount of the contour figure of the image when the element is displayed. At this time, if the data amount is too large, the interference determination using the bitmap of the image uses a lot of resources and the calculation cost is high.

Step S4-2-3-2C to step S
4-2-3-4C: The data amount estimated in step S4-2-3-1C is compared with a predetermined amount (step S4-2).
-3-2C) As a result, when the data amount is smaller than the predetermined amount, similarly to step S4-2-3-2 (FIG. 22) in the above-described first embodiment, each of the contour graphic and the pick window is used. Hit processing is performed by performing interference determination for each pixel of the bitmap image (step S4-2-3-3C). On the other hand, when the estimated data amount is equal to or smaller than the predetermined amount, the interference is geometrically determined by the same procedure as the flowchart of FIG. 25 in the second embodiment (step S4-2-3-4C).

The interference determination using the bit map is performed by
Although the calculation cost is used, a precise interference determination can be performed in consideration of a printing attribute and the like. On the other hand, the geometric interference determination can be performed with a small amount of resources and a low calculation cost, although the precision is slightly lost. According to the present embodiment, the above two processes are adaptively switched by estimating the data amount of the contour graphic of the display image of the first element.

According to this embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment based on the drawing instruction apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

The drawing instruction apparatus according to this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processing in step S9 is performed according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 28, and is performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 28, step S9-1A: Since the selected element candidates are overlapped and it is difficult for the operator to make a selection, the selected element candidates are temporarily shifted and displayed so as not to overlap temporarily. (See FIG. 18).
A more specific procedure may be performed, for example, according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 29, step S9-1A-
1. Step S9-1A-2: A circumscribed rectangle of each overlapping element is calculated, and an appropriate margin value indicating a distance between each element when the overlapping graphic is shifted and displayed is set.

Step S9-1A-3: The circumscribed rectangle of each element around the input coordinates can be arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the circumscribed rectangle of another element by the margin value set in step S9-1A-2. Thus, the movement amount of each figure is calculated.

Step S9-1A-4, Step S9-
1A-5: It is determined whether or not all graphic elements that are selected element candidates fit in the screen. As a result of the determination, if all the graphic elements fit, the process proceeds to step S9-1A-6; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S9. -1A-5:
By allowing the value to be a negative value, the movement amount of each figure is recalculated so that the margin value is reduced to fit within the screen.
Alternatively, the display scale of the screen is reduced so that all of the elements that are selected element candidates fall within the screen.

Step S9-1A-6: Each figure is temporarily rearranged according to the obtained movement amount.

Next, returning to the description of FIG. Step S9
-2A: Each graphic element whose display position has been temporarily shifted as described above is temporarily set to a special display state such as a high-brightness display, a display with a special color, or blinking so as to be easily understood by the operator.

Step S9-3A: The operator inputs coordinates using a pointing device such as the mouse 12 to select a desired graphic element from the selection element candidates displayed as described above.

Steps S9-4A to S9-7
A: In the present embodiment, pick processing is performed without assuming that there are a plurality of selection elements as described in the first embodiment. That is, if there is a figure selected as a result of the picking process, it is set as a selected figure (step S9-6).
A). On the other hand, if there is no selected figure, an error process such as re-entering the user again as an error is performed (step S9-7A).

Step S9-8A: Step S9-2A
The element which has been shifted to the special display state by the process of (1) is returned to the original state.

According to the present embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be enjoyed.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment based on the drawing instruction apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the picking process in the sixth embodiment.
In steps S6 to S6, the same processing as steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment is performed. That is, if there is at least one graphic element that has been hit in step S6, that graphic element is set as a selected element. This enables a quick selection process.

Steps S11 and S12: If no hit is found in the judgment in step S5, step S
In step 11, similarly to step S7 in FIG. 1, it is determined whether there is a graphic element that may still be selected. As a result of this determination, if there is a graphic element that may still be selected, the process returns to step S2, and if not, it is determined that there is no selected element in step S12.

According to this embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

According to each of the embodiments described above, the picking process which is excellent in operability and takes into account the printing attribute is realized. In addition, according to the calculation resource amount of the drawing instruction device, the picking process is usually performed based on the display data including the precise printing attribute. However, when the resource amount is insufficient, the picking process is performed by a simple process. Therefore, appropriate processing according to the situation can be performed.

[0195]

Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and to provide the system or apparatus. This is also achieved when a computer (or CPU or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0197]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a drawing instruction device, a drawing instruction method, and a computer-readable storage medium which are excellent in operability and perform a pick process in consideration of a print attribute.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a pick process.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a drawing instruction apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating functions of WYSIWYG.

FIG. 4 shows a main panel 61 displayed on the display device 41 when the pick processing program according to the first embodiment is executed.
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing characteristic points of each element.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of specifying a position by specifying an intersection.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of specifying a position by specifying a point on a line.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data file.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a symbol.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a picking process that does not consider a printing attribute of a line width / end point attribute.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pick process that does not consider a print attribute of a line type.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pick process using a character string font box.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which it is difficult to pick depending on the element type.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a process of putting an element that may be selected by input coordinates into a list.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a process of extracting a contour figure.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing creation of a pick window.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a process of determining the presence or absence of a hit by inspecting interference between a pick window and an outline graphic of an element.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a process of temporarily shifting a figure so that an overlapped figure is easily picked.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing details of a process in step S4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating details of the process of step S4-1 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process in step S4-2 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing details of the process of step S4-2-3 in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing details of the process in step S9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing details of the process of step S9-3 in FIG.

FIG. 25 shows a step S4-2 in the second embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process performed as No. 3;

FIG. 26 shows a step S4-2 in the third embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process performed as No. 3;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating step S4-2 in the fourth embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating details of a process performed as No. 3;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating details of processing performed as step S9 in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing step S of FIG. 28 in the fifth embodiment;
It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a process performed as 9-1A.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a pick process in the sixth embodiment.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B046 FA07 FA08 GA01 5B050 AA03 BA07 BA17 BA18 CA07 EA06 EA19 EA23 FA02 5E501 AA14 AC09 AC15 AC34 BA05 CB09 EA05 EA12 EA13 EB07 FA05 FA08 FA13 FA14 FA45 FB04 FB43

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An element acquiring means for extracting a drawing element which may be selected from drawing elements being drawn based on designated input coordinates, and extracting a contour figure in a display image of each drawing element. A contour figure acquiring unit, a hit determining unit that determines a drawing element that is hit based on the input coordinates acquired by the element acquiring unit, and the contour figure acquired by the contour figure acquiring unit; Selecting means for extracting a drawing element determined to be hit as a candidate for a selected drawing element, and determining one of the extracted candidates as the selected drawing element; and ,
A drawing instruction device, comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hit judging means judges, when judging that there is no hit, whether a drawing element which may be selected still exists.
The drawing instruction device according to the description. 3. A pick window creating means for creating a pick window having a predetermined area based on the input coordinates; a pick window created by the pick window creating means; 3. The drawing instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an interference determination unit configured to determine whether the outline figure acquired by the acquisition unit is interfering. 4. The pick window creation means, comprising: a side length correction means for converting a side length L of the pick window registered in advance into a side length L 'corresponding to a coordinate system of a display device used; 4. The drawing instruction according to claim 3, further comprising: a pick window setting unit that sets a square having a side length L ′ converted by the side length correction unit as a length around the input coordinates. 5. apparatus. 5. The circumscribing rectangle acquiring means for extracting a circumscribing rectangle of a contour figure of a display image, a pick window created by the pick window creating means, and a circumscribing rectangle acquired by the circumscribing rectangle acquiring means. 4. A first interference judging unit for judging whether there is interference between the contour graphic and the pick window, and a second interference judging unit for judging whether the outline graphic and the pick window are interfering with each other. Drawing instruction device. 6. A second bitmap image obtaining means for calculating a bitmap image of the display image, a second bitmap image obtaining means for calculating a bitmap image of the display image, and a second bitmap image obtaining means for calculating a bitmap image of the pick window. A bitmap image interference determining unit that determines whether each pixel interferes with each other in each bitmap image acquired by the first and second bitmap image acquiring units; 6. The drawing instruction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the map image interference determination means determines that even one pixel is interfering, it is determined that a hit has occurred. 7. The second interference determination unit determines whether the element data and the pick window are geometrically interfering with each other. 6. The drawing instruction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein it is determined that a hit has occurred when it is determined that there is interference. 8. The character string font box calculating means for calculating a sum of rectangles of font boxes of each text of the character string when the drawing element is a character string, the first and second interference determining means, A window and a font box interference determining unit that determines whether the font box is interfering with the font box. The hit determining unit hits when the font box interference determining unit determines that there is interference. 8. The drawing instruction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein it is determined that there is an image. 9. A data amount calculating means for estimating a data amount of a contour graphic of a display image of a drawing element, and comparing the data amount estimated by the data amount calculating means with a predetermined value. If the data amount is larger than the predetermined value, it is determined whether or not the element data and the pick window are geometrically interfering. If the data amount is smaller than the predetermined value, the display image of the display image is determined. A bitmap image is calculated, a bitmap image of the pick window is calculated, and it is determined whether or not each pixel is interfered in each calculated bitmap image. Is larger than the predetermined value, it is determined that a hit has occurred when it is determined that there is geometrical interference, and the data amount is When the value is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that a hit occurs when it is determined that even one pixel interferes between the bitmap image of the display image and the bitmap image of the pick window. Item 6. The drawing instruction device according to Item 5. 10. The search means for searching for a drawing element having the highest priority among the drawing elements determined to be hit by the hit determination means, and a predetermined priority according to an element type, When there are a plurality of drawing elements obtained by the element type priority element selecting means for extracting a high priority element, the drawing element obtained by the searching means and the element type priority element selecting means, the drawing element at the end of the priority order is selected. 2. The drawing instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that determines the determined drawing element and, when there is only one acquired drawing element, determines the determined drawing element. 11. When the drawing elements determined to be hit by the hit determination means are displayed in an overlapping manner, the drawing elements are temporarily offset by a predetermined amount and the offset can be recognized. The image processing apparatus further includes offset means for displaying, wherein the selecting means determines any one of the drawing elements as the selected drawing element based on the input coordinates specified in the display state offset by the offset means. The drawing instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 12. An offset unit, comprising: an obtaining unit that obtains a circumscribed rectangle of an overlapping drawing element; a setting unit that sets a predetermined positive margin value; A moving amount calculating means for calculating a moving amount of each drawing element so that a rectangle can be arranged according to the margin value; and displaying each drawing element based on the calculated moving amount, the drawing elements are displayed on a display screen. It is determined whether or not it fits in, and when it is determined that it does not fit, in order to display so as to fit, the margin value is reduced to a small value, or the display scale is reduced, and adjustment means for recalculating the movement amount 12. The drawing finger according to claim 11, further comprising: an arrangement unit that temporarily offsets each of the drawing elements according to the movement amount adjusted by the adjustment unit. Apparatus. 13. An element obtaining step of extracting a drawing element which may be selected from drawing elements being drawn based on designated input coordinates, and extracting a contour figure in a display image of each drawing element. A contour figure obtaining step; a hit determining step of determining a drawing element hit based on the input coordinates obtained in the element obtaining step and the contour figure obtained in the contour figure obtaining step; The drawing element determined to be hit in the process is extracted as a selected drawing element candidate, and one of the extracted candidates is determined as the selected drawing element. And a selecting step. 14. In the hit determining step, a pick window having a predetermined area is created based on the input coordinates, and the created pick window interferes with the contour figure acquired in the contour figure acquiring step. 14. The drawing instruction method according to claim 13, wherein it is determined whether or not the drawing is performed. 15. When the pick window is created, a side length L of the pick window registered in advance is converted into a side length L ′ corresponding to a coordinate system of a display device used, and the converted side length is used. The drawing instruction method according to claim 14, wherein a square having L 'as a side length is set with the input coordinates as a center. 16. When performing the interference determination, a circumscribed rectangle of a contour graphic of a display image is extracted, and a first determination step of determining whether the acquired circumscribed rectangle and the pick window interfere with each other; 15. The drawing instruction method according to claim 14, comprising: a second interference determination step of determining whether the pick window interferes with the pick window. 17. In the second interference determination step, a bitmap image of the display image and a bitmap image of the pick window are calculated, and in the calculated display image and bitmap image of the pick window, In the hit determination step, when it is determined that even one pixel interferes, it is determined that a hit has occurred in the hit determination step. 17. The drawing instruction method according to claim 16, wherein: 18. In the second interference determination step, it is determined whether or not the element data and the pick window are geometrically interfering. In the hit determination step, the geometric determination is performed in the second interference determination step. When it is determined that there is interference,
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein it is determined that a hit has occurred.
The drawing instruction method described. 19. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for operating a computer as the drawing instruction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12. 20. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code capable of realizing a drawing instruction method according to any one of claims 13 to 18 by a computer.